Homemade Beauty Recipes for Hair

Many of the same wholesome foods that you eat to help you glow from the inside-out can also be used externally, as shampoos, conditioners and hair masks. These vitamins, minerals, and oils that nourish your body also nourish your hair. Below you’ll find recipes for a variety of haircare products that you can make at home with a few simple ingredients. Make them for yourself or even give them as gifts by reusing pretty class jars or bottles. Your friends and relatives will love the personal touch, and you’ll be recycling and saving money too! Here are some recipes to get you started.

Note: If you have sensitive skin, do a patch test before using any of these products. Apply a few drops to the inside of your wrist, and wait 12 hours to see if any irritation develops.

*For more information about uncommon ingredients, see bottom of article.

Lemon-Ginger Moisturizing Shampoo
This concoction is great for cleansing the hair and scalp, especially if you are prone to dry hair and scalp. The olive oil and eggs moisturize, the castile soap and lemon juice thoroughly cleanse, and the ginger invigorates.

3 Tbsp unscented castile soap*

1 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

3 eggs

1.5 cups ginger tea

Whip all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Wet hair with warm water, massage in an ample amount of shampoo mixture, and rinse. Unused shampoo must be refrigerated, and will keep for 3-4 days.

Whip all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Massage into freshly shampooed hair and scalp. Leave on for up to 15 minutes, and then rinse thoroughly. Unused conditioner must be tightly sealed and refrigerated, and will keep for 3-4 days.

Deep-Conditioning Honey & Yogurt Hair Mask
All of the ingredients in this recipe moisturize and soften your hair.

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup plain, full-fat yogurt

2 Tbsp grapeseed oil (or olive oil)

1 Tbsp honey

Whip all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Apply to dry hair, concentrating on hair ends. Leave on for 15 minutes, covering with a shower cap to contain any drips. Shampoo as usual. Unused conditioning mask must be tightly sealed and refrigerated, and will keep for 3-4 days.

*Information about Uncommon Ingredients

Castile soap refers to liquid or bar soap that is made exclusively from vegetable oils (as opposed to animal fat) and comes in a variety of scents (or unscented). You'll find it in natural foods stores. Dr. Bronner's is a commonly used brand.

Grapeseed oil (also called grape seed oil or grape oil) is pressed from the seeds of various grapes. It possesses regenerative and restructuring qualities, and is often used in commercial eye creams. You'll find it in most natural or gourmet food stores, next to other cooking oils.

Vegetable glycerine is a clear, colorless, and odorless liquid that is often found in cosmetics, shampoo, toothpaste, soap and more. You'll find it in small or bulk-size bottles at natural foods stores (typically in the cosmetics/beauty aisle) and some craft stores. It has a shelf life of one to two years.

It's a nice thought but completely unrealistic for my lifestyle. I don't have time to cook dinner, let alone make my toiletries. I would also struggle to have to make new hair products every 3-4 days...and remember to get them out of the fridge.

Don't get me wrong, if you have time & are more domestic than I am then this is probably great. It just makes me feel a little guilty that being a full-time working mom with no extra time doesn't allow me to even really try these. I already only get 4 hours of sleep a night so I have time to grab a workout. Plus, if I like any of these, I'm out of luck to keep doing them! Ignorance is bliss for me. :)
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I am probably going to get some flack for this but it is better to NOT use anything on your hair. And I am talking ONLY to the males on here. Did you know that the chemicals in your shampoos and conditioners actually HURT your hair instead of help it? Why do you think many have thin, dry hair? It's the shampoos that do the drying. The scalp naturally cleans itself daily. When you first stop using shampoo, your hair creates excessive oil because it is trying to get rid of the layer of crap left by shampoos and conditioners. After about two weeks of not using hair products, your hair stops producing excessive oil and wait a daily shower, your hair finishes nice and clean WITHOUT any foul smell.
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Occasionally I use a recipe a friend gave me, though she didn't have measurements, so I just wing it. :) I whisk up some mayonaise with an egg, some olive oil and some vitamin E. She told me to also add vitamin A, but I don't have any around the house and haven't added it. I'm going to try your method Two Sparrows. It sounds interesting.
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I have been using the recipe with yogurt, egg, grapeseed oil, about once a month for several months now. I usually leave it in for 45 minutes. It makes my hair incredibly soft. However, I strongly suggest using greek yogurt for this recipe as it is thicker, so does not drip as much when applied.
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NAOLEE

The good of these conditioner that are making of things that you have in your home and if you "see" it.s cheaper than those that you have to buy in a store. The bad thing is the time you have to leave those conditioners in our hairs. Overall I like it because really help my hair. I have dry hair and is difficult for me to find a good conditioner cheaper. I'll try to use what this article show to me; because I prefer cheaper help to my hair than time.
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It's not homemade but it is all natural - I've started putting henna in my hair about every two months. I read a doctoral dissertation about how henna for hair actually can have chemical additives (not regulated in the countries where it grows) but if you use henna for your skin, and prepare it like you do for hair (lemon juice, tea, and/or water) it will be pure ingredients. I have dark brown hair and it turns my hair auburn, covers the grey (which I don't mind but it's kinda cool) and leaves it super conditioned for weeks. My hair is thicker, softer, shinier, and a very awesome color - all from a dried plant. My husband compliments me almost every time he sees me in the sunshine where the red really shows.
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These would be good if the person using them needs extra protein in their hair - but for those with already balanced hair, or dry hair (needing moisture, not protein), these protein-rich treatments may leave hair dry, brittle, and prone to breaking.
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These recipes look healthy, evironmentally safe and logical. I just wish that I could make a batch that would last a month and not require refrigeration...we live in such a busy world, don't we?

I appreciate all the posts on this topic and will try some of the suggestions that are a little more easier. When I take a vacation and have the spare time I am going to try the recipe for the deep conditioner. I am a long haired blond with non-bleach highlights and my hair can get pretty dry at times.

These are good tips. I have been natural for almost 2 years. Avocado can be used as a conditioner too just blend it. My hair does not Protein only products. I had a jerri curl for twenty years. Yep you heard right. Now I am loving my natural hair. I am learning how to care if every day.
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These are good tips. I have been natural for almost 2 years. Avocado can be used as a conditioner too just blend it. My hair does not Protein only products. I had a jerri curl for twenty years. Yep you heard right. Now I am loving my natural hair. I am learning how to care if every day.
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About The Author

Liza Barnes
Liza has two bachelor's degrees: one in health promotion and education and a second in nursing. A registered nurse and mother, regular exercise and cooking are top priorities for her. See all of Liza's articles.

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